Help identifying a possibly FAKE bosch part!?

[SalvadorP]

I bought a lambda supposed to be bosch from a local shop. The box was open and the sticker/seal was torn. No doubt the box is from bosch, as the ID code is clear, but the part... The part is another story.
It is very different from the OEM bosch part I had in the car. The wires are thiner, the connector is white instead of brown and it has different phisical details. Also NOWHERE does it say Bosch or made in Germany. Although I think it had the Bosch symbol before the part number. Just not Bosch writen on it or the country of origin.

I called the guy, he said that he himself opened the box (what purpose does a seal serve if it's broken?)
I said it doesn't say bosch, and he said it should say it and for me to bring the part for him to see it.

I already had the part installed and at the MOT it failed again, but the guy pitty me and let it pass. He said the lambda value was all over the place and it did look like the part was not working properly (he said he was a mechanic before being an inspector).

Given this information, do you think I should try to get a refund? Is it likely a counterfeit part?

[Forrest]

I doubt anyone on here would be able to give you a definite opinion, especially without a photo of the part. A quick look online suggests that the Bosch part does still have a brown connector. For example,

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/bosch/1148633

Also the shape of the tip (quite rounded) and size of the body of the sensor are fairly distinctive for Bosch.

There are cheaper brands which come with a white connector. For example, Febi Bilstein:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/315433837092

It may be that an unscrupulous customer returned a faulty, non-Bosch part in the Bosch box. It is not necessarily the vendor’s fault.

[IainG]

Hi
Would it be worth emailing Bosch with photos, and go from there?

[baggy798]

Someone might have swapped it out and returned the fake to the shop. A classic trick. If the vendor has another in stock, maybe ask him to open and compare?

[SalvadorP]

I didn't post pic because the part is now installed. But I will remove it in the afternoon and try to return it. The MOT technician was pretty adamant that the part was faulty.
It being not the fault of the shop owner, I don't think is possible, because he claimed to have opened the box himself. So, by his words, the part was sealed when arrived at his shop. I know the case itself is legit because the code goes through.

btw, one last weird thing, the part had a small mark, like it was scraped with a needle or a tip of a knife in the shape of the letter "M".

The hole thing is shady and I know the guy is gonna give me problems when I ask for a refund.

[Rversteeg]

This is what a Bosch sensor should look like:
https://www.estateservices.nl/lambda...e-stekker.html

[RollingThunder]

As you've fitted it, I would expect the supplier to refuse a refund/exchange.

Its in the small print of pretty much every retailers T&Cs that if a part is fitted there can be no refund or exchange as they can't resell it after the return. If it hadn't been fitted then you'd have a chance, but not now sorry - its purely down to the retailers goodwill now.

[SalvadorP]

Originally Posted by RollingThunder

As you've fitted it, I would expect the supplier to refuse a refund/exchange.

Its in the small print of pretty much every retailers T&Cs that if a part is fitted there can be no refund or exchange as they can't resell it after the return. If it hadn't been fitted then you'd have a chance, but not now sorry - its purely down to the retailers goodwill now.

You must have missed part of the info. The part is faulty. By portuguese law at least he is obliged to refund.

[4x4]

I'll put my twopence worth in and say even though it has been fitted and used. If you were sold it as a Bosch part in a Bosch box and it isn't you have a case against the vendor.

First thing to do is contact Bosch UK and they will let you know if it is fake or not, they may even decide to take the vendor to court as these big companies are getting a bad rep due to fake parts.

Bosch Uk online contact page here

[SalvadorP]

Originally Posted by 4x4

I'll put my twopence worth in and say even though it has been fitted and used. If you were sold it as a Bosch part in a Bosch box and it isn't you have a case against the vendor.

First thing to do is contact Bosch UK and they will let you know if it is fake or not, they may even decide to take the vendor to court as these big companies are getting a bad rep due to fake parts.

Bosch Uk online contact page here

Thx, but this was not in the UK. This is in Portugal. But I will contact Bosch with pictures of the part, in case the shop makes it hard.
I will at the very minimum require a replacement, this time on a closed box with an intact seal.